Lighting 10.1 Purpose and Applicability 10
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LIGHTING 10.1 PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY 10 Lighting 10.1 PURPOSE AND APPLICABILITY 10.1.1 PURPOSE The standards set forth in this section are designed to focus on the actual physical effects of lighting, as well as the effect that lighting may have on the surrounding neighborhood. It is the intent of this section to: A. Minimize light pollution, such as glare and light trespass. B. Conserve energy and resources. C. Maintain night-time safety and utility. D. Improve the night-time visual environment. 10.1.2 APPLICABILITY Unless otherwise specified, this section shall apply to all development in the Town of Wake Forest which requires an application and/or UDO approval as specified in this ordinance. This includes, but is not limited to, changes of use, building expansions/reconstruction and parking area expansions for existing development according to the provisions in Section 13.1. The notable exception shall be any Planned Unit Development District, which may create its own lighting standards through the PUD Concept Plan. 10.1.3 NONCONFORMING LIGHTING Any nonconforming lighting fixture lawfully in place or approved by the town prior to the adoption of this ordinance shall be exempt from these requirements. Routine maintenance, including changing the lamp, ballast, starter, photo control, lens, and other required components, is permitted for all existing fixtures. At the time that a nonconforming fixture, which was installed prior to the adoption of this ordinance, is replaced, moved, upgraded, or otherwise changed, the fixture must be replaced by a fixture that is in compliance with this ordinance and the NC Energy Code. 10.2 PROHIBITIONS AND EXEMPTIONS 10.2.1 PROHIBITIONS The following lighting types shall be prohibited within the jurisdiction of the Town of Wake Forest: A. The use of laser source light or any similar high intensity light for outdoor advertising or entertainment is prohibited. B. The operation of searchlights for advertising purposes is prohibited. C. Site lighting that may be confused with warning, emergency, or traffic signals is prohibited. D. Lights that flash, move, revolve, rotate, scintillate, blink, flicker, vary in intensity or color, or use intermittent electrical pulsation are prohibited. E. Awnings and canopies used for building accents over doors, windows, and etc. shall not be internally lit (i.e. from underneath or behind) so as to visually turn a translucent material into an internally illuminated material. Lighting may be installed under canopies that light the sidewalk, or downlights onto the architectural features of a building. UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE | Adopted July 16, 2013 10-1 LIGHTING 10 10.3 DESIGN STANDARDS 10.2.2 EXEMPTIONS The following exemptions shall be granted from the requirements of this section: A. Luminaires used for public-roadway illumination may be installed at a maximum height of 37 feet and may be positioned at that height up to the edge of any bordering property. B. All temporary emergency lighting needed by the Police or Fire Departments or other emergency services, as well as all vehicular luminaires, shall be exempt from the requirements of this ordinance. C. All hazard warning luminaires required by Federal regulatory agencies are exempt from the requirements of this article, except that all luminaires used must be red and must be shown to be as close as possible to the federally required minimum lumen output requirement for the specific task. D. Individual residential lighting that is not part of a site plan or subdivision plan for street or other common or public area outdoor lighting. E. Lighting associated with holiday, festival or other temporary uses permitted in Section 4.7. F. Lighting of public art that has been permitted or otherwise approved by the town. G. Other Municipal or State lighting installed for the benefit of public health, safety, and welfare. H. All fixtures installed or temporarily used by public agencies, their agents, or contractors for the purpose of illuminating public streets. I. Lighting of US and North Carolina State Flags provided the flag standard does not exceed the maximum permitted building height for that district. 10.3 DESIGN STANDARDS 10.3.1 GENERAL DESIGN STANDARDS A. Background spaces such as parking lots and driveways shall be illuminated as unobtrusively as possible to meet the functional needs of safe circulation and of protecting people and property. B. Foreground spaces, such as building entrances and plaza seating areas, shall utilize lighting that defines, highlights, or enhances the space without glare. C. The style of light standards and fixtures shall be consistent with the style and character of architecture proposed on the site. D. Light poles and fixtures shall be of a matte or low-gloss grey, black, dark earthen, or bronze finish, unless permission is granted by the Administrator for a special color scheme or theme. E. No outdoor pole lighting fixture shall be located within any required landscape buffer yard or street yard, except for those lighting encroachments permitted by Section 4.3.4. F. Unique areas or neighborhoods within the jurisdiction, such as but not limited to any locally designated municipal historic district, any National Register historic district, and downtown Wake Forest, may have additional design guidelines for lighting. G. Light sources must be compatible with the light produced by surrounding uses and must produce an unobtrusive degree of brightness in both illumination levels and color temperature. 10-2 TOWN OF WAKE FOREST, NC LIGHTING 10.3 DESIGN STANDARDS 10 H. Natural areas and natural features shall be protected from light spillage from off-site sources. I. All exterior lighting, on or off a building, shall be either amber or white in color (per the district lighting standards in chart 10.3.2.A), with the exception of low-light output (800 lumens or lower) landscaping or other decorative lighting, signage lighting, or customer entrance or service area lights aiming down and installed under a canopy or similar roof structure. 10.3.2 DISTRICT LIGHTING STANDARDS IN FOOTCANDLES (FC) A. Maximum lighting levels shall adhere to the standards in the chart below. All numerical values in the chart below represent measurements in footcandles. OS, RD, GR10, UR, NMX, RA-HC, HB, LI, HI GR3, GR5 RMX UMX, NB, ICD Light Trespass Off 0.1 0.3 0.8 1 Property Display/Canopy Areas 8 12 20 20 Parking Areas 4 4 6 6 All Other On-Site Lighting 4 6 10 10 1. The values in the preceding chart for “All Other On-Site Lighting” and “Display/Canopy Areas” shall represent the maximum point of illuminance measured at grade in footcandles. a. Exception: Outdoor display lots for vehicle sales and leasing may exceed 20 foot-candles if outdoor white lighting is cut off, leaving only security lighting that is amber in color (a temperature rating equal to or less than 2,700 Kelvin), after closing or 11:00 p.m., whichever comes earlier. 2. The values of the preceding chart for the “Light Trespass Off Property” shall represent the maximum point of illuminance as measure at the propery line in footcandles. a. Exception: In the case of buildings closer than 10 feet to the property line using only wall packs, light trespass may be greater than one foot-candle as long as the wall packs are fully shielded to direct the light downward, have a light output of 1,600 lumens or lower, and the light source (lamp) is not visible from off-site. 3. The values of the preceding chart for “Parking Areas” shall represent the average point of horizontal illuminance measured in footcandles, provided that in all districts the maximum uniformity ratio shall be 4:1 minimum to average. 10.3.3 CONTROL OF GLARE – LUMINAIRE DESIGN FACTORS A. Pole light fixtures shall have a flat lens oriented horizontally or have shields installed on each side of the fixture to hide the lens. B. Any luminaire shall be a full-cutoff type fixture. C. Any luminaire shall be mounted at a height equal to or less than 30 feet above finished grade. D. The maximum mounting height of all outdoor lighting with a 90 or less degree cut- off fixture shall be 30 feet. The maximum mounting height of all outdoor lighting without a full 90 degree or less cut-off fixture shall be 16 feet. Poles may be mounted on a concrete pier of no more than 3 feet in height. E. Poles shall be matte or low-gloss finish to minimize glare from the light source. UNIFIED DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE | Adopted July 16, 2013 10-3 LIGHTING 10 10.3 DESIGN STANDARDS F. Other than floodlights, flood lamps, and spotlights all outdoor lighting fixtures of more than 2,000 lumens shall be full-cutoff type fixtures. Any fixture that is not full-cut off shall be a directional fixture (such as flood lights) and may be used provided they shall be aimed and fully shielded to prevent light spillage. G. Exceptions to Paragraphs A through F above: 1. Non-cutoff decorative post-mounted fixtures equipped with a solid top and mounted 18 feet or less above ground and other non-cutoff dusk to dawn utility type fixtures mounted 25 feet or less may be used. The maximum initial lumens generated by each fixture shall not exceed 9500 initial lamp lumens. 2. All metal halide, mercury vapor, fluorescent, and other white-colored light source lamps used in non-cutoff fixtures (excluding flood lights) shall be coated with an internal white frosting inside the outer lamp envelope. 10.3.4 SECURITY LIGHTING A. Unshielded flood lights and spotlights, installed for security and activated by motion sensor, are permitted. These unshielded lights must be mounted and aimed in a manner that minimizes up-lighting and light trespass.